"Kya? Shopping? Iske saath?" Manik looked annoyed. "Mom main abhi abhi office se aaya hoon aur ab iske saath shopping bhi jaun? Yeh akeli kyun nahi ja sakti? Ya phir, bhabhis ke saath kyun nahi jaa sakti?"

"Kyunki maine bola hai isi liye...ab chup chap jaata hai Nandini ke saath ya chaperr marun?" Aarti spoke up and looked at him sternly. 

"Jaata hoon." Manik sighed in defeat. So having no other choice Manik left with Nandini. 

After sitting in Manik's car, Nandini tried to put her seat belt on but it wouldnt budge.

"Seriously?" Manik rolled his eyes and reached across to help her. As his fingers brushed her fingers both of them felt a shock causing them to jump slightly. Manik & Nandini were less than an inch away from eachother and neither person moved. Manik felt like Nandini looked soo familiar like he knows her for years while Nandini was admiring how handsome he is. Getting conscious, Manik cleared his throat and moved away. "Seat belt agar nahi pehni aati toh mat pehno...as if I care."

"Mujhe pehni aati hai...tumhara yeh stupid seat belt atak gaya toh main karun?" Nandini protested.

"Kuch mat karo.....Like I said, I dont care." Manik put on his own seat belt and started the car. Nandini tried again to put on the belt but it was still stuck so she just gave up. 

Suddenly a dog came onto the road and Manik had to hit the breaks a bit hard. Nandini slid forward, hee head about to hit the dashboard when Manik caught her. "Shit...you okay? Laagi toh nahi na? Paata nahi kahan se woh kutta aagaya."

Nandini jerked his hands off and glared. "Maarna chahte ho kya?"

"I said sorry...jeez." Manik said. Nandini just stared at him.

"Tumhara dimaag kharab ho gaya hai ya mera kaan? Cause maine toh tumhe Im sorry bolte hue nahi sunna." 

"God....fine...Im sorry....Sun liya? Can we get this shopping thing over with now?"  Manik asked. They then drove to the mall and went inside. 

"Maine yeh try karke aati hoon." Nandini took some clothes and decided to go try them on. Meanwhile Manik was super bored and was just playing games on his phone so he ignored her. Thats when he felt two hands wrap around him from the back. Turning he saw Aliya there. She was wearing a strapless hotpink dress that was body hugging, showing off her curves.

For a second, Manik was captivated by her looks when he remembered what she did.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

"Main toh shopping karne aayi thi, jab maine tumhe dekha." Aliya seductively walked closer to Manik, hooking her arms around his neck. "Abhi bhi gussa ho mujhse?"

"You cheated on me Aliya...gussa would be a massive understatement."

"Baby, galati ho gayi na mujhse....insaan se galati nahi ho sakti kya?" 

Manik scoffed.

"Manik...I know, tumne mujhe sazza dene ke liye uss ladki se shaadi ki hai na? There is no way you like that middle class Nandini! Woh tumhari layak hi nahi hai....You love me, only me!" Aliya said. "You win okay...uss dine maine jo kaha tha it was wrong but tumse bhi galati hui hai...mujhe sabak sikhane ke liye you married a random girl.  Tum hi socho...agar uski shaadi tumse nahi hua hota toh kya aaj woh yahan iss mall mein shopping kar paati kya? This mall is filled with designer stores, uski toh aukat hi nahi hai yahan aane ki phir bhi dekho tumhare paiso pe aish kar rahi hai."

Manik started getting into Aliya's words as she filled his ears against Nandini. 

"I dont know ki tumhe woh kaha mili par..uski jaisi low class ki ladki The Manik Malhotra ki biwi banna deserve nahi karti."

"Woh.....Cabir ki muh boli behen hai." Manik replied.

"Makes sense....Cabir toh humesha se aise logon se humdardi rakhta hai. Navya bhi toh middle class hi thi aur dekho...ek middle class waitress se ek famous lawyer ki bahu ban gayi. Nandini ki bhi waisa hi koi plan hoga. Ill bet you anything ki Navya aur Nandini dono ne milke Cabir ko bewakuf banaya, bechara bhola hai na isi liye phas gaya."

Manik thought about the first time he saw Nandini dancing for drunk rich people. Men were throwing money at her and she seemed happy to take it. "Baat toh Aliya ne sahi kahi hai...after all she is a bar dancer....paison se zyada uske liye kuch bhi important nahi hoga. And I dont know Navya very well par jitna maine dekha hai she has Cabir wrapped around her fingers. Ek middle class ladki aur ek ameer ghar ka ladka ek kaise ho sakta hai....its just not possible."

"Baby...kya soch rahe ho?" Aliya disrupted his thoughts.

"Shayad tum sahi ho Nandini ke baare mein...lekin that does change what you did Aliya. I cant trust you again." Manik replied and walked away.

"No no no....I cant let you leave like this Manik." Aliya whispered to herself with an evil look. "Aaj toh main tumhe apna banakar hi chodungi....You will have no choice but to forgive me."

Aliya then took out a wad of cash and gave it to one of the employees leaving the store. A few minutes later, the employee ran to Manik.

"Sir...sir! Woh jo ma'am aapke saath thi..woh pink dress wali-"

"Kya? Kya hua usse?" manik got worried seeing how scared the employee looked. 

"Sir woh mall ke roof se jump karne ki damki de rahi hai!" The employee replied.

"WHAT!!!" Manik yelled. At that moment Nandini came out wearing a new dress and was confused as to what was happing. Ignoring her, Manik literally shoved her out of the way and ran straight to Aliya. 

When he got to the roof, Aliya quickly stepped onto the ledge and started her crocodile tears.

"Aliya! Kya kar rahi ho...niche aao!"

"No! "Mujhe galati ho gayi Manik....but I swear maine humesha sirf tumse pyar kiya...sirf tumse! Uss din main jo bhi kaha tha woh sirf apni galati ko chuppane ki chakkar mein...but I lied....I do love you Manik!"

"No! No pls come down Aliya...hum baat karte niche aao!"

"Agar tum mujhe maaf nahi ka sakte toh mere paas jeene ka koi vajah hi nahi hai!" Aliya sobbed. Manik got scared at Aliya stepped closer to the edge.

"Maaf kiya maine!" Manik yelled. Aliya stopped and looked at Manik. "I forgive you Aliya just come down pls!!"

Smiling, Aliya got down from the ledge and ran to Manik, hugging him. "I love you baby! Im so so sorry....aisi galati phir kabhi nahi hogi!"

"I love you too!" Manik replied, hugging Aliya back. Unfortunately, Nandini who had followed Manik to the roof saw everything and she felt heartbroken. Even though she didnt have a proper relation with Manik, just seeing him with Aliya tore her apart from the inside. Wiping her tears away, Nandini walked back to the store and changed into her original clothes before leaving the mall.

**************************

"What the bloody hell!" Cabir shouted. 

After leaving the mall, Nandini got a rikshaw and went to Cabir's place where she told him & Navya everything.

"Iss ladke ka dimaag kharab ho gaya kya? Itni mehnat se maine Aliya aur Dhruv ki sachai dikhai and...he just forgave the bitch!" Cabir fumed.

"Cabir...shant ho jao." Navya consoled him.

"Kaise shant ho jao? Meri beh-" Cabir then saw Nandini silently crying. "Nandu....roh mat..."

"I dont know whats wrong with me bhai..." Nandini sobbed. "Its not like Im in love with Manik...humari shaadi toh sirf ek deal hi thi...par aaj jab roof pe usne Aliya ko I lve you bola toh...bohot dard hua....bohot...bohot zyada dard hua."

"Ssshhh..." Cabir hugged Nandini stroking her head to calm her down. "Of course tujhe burra laaga...shaadi jaise bhi hua ho par ab Manik tera pati hai. Uspe sirf tera haq hai Nandu....mera dost toh gadha hai khud ki bhalai kisme hai...yeh hi nahi samjhta hai. Par tu toh bohot strong hai na? Meri behen kabhi har nahi manti hai na?"

Nandini nodded slowly.

"Toh aaj bhi har nahi mann sakti tu...Even though you dont love Manik right now...par usne tujhse shaadi karke tujhse ek commitment ki hai aur woh usko nibhana hoga. You have to fight for your right Nandini aur Aliya ko uski jagah dikhani hai." Cabir explained.

"Haan Nandu...dikha de apni uss churail sautan ko ki Nandini se panga lene ki kya matlab hota hai. Vaise toh Nyonika aunty, bhabhis aur dadi tujhe already pasand karte hai...bas ab bakki ghar walon ke dil mein apni aisi jagah bana le ki Aliya toh kya...uski bhoot bhi beech mein nahi sakegi." Navya added.

"Sahi bol rahe ho aap dono...shaadi karne ka chahe jo bhi vajah kyun ho, shaadi shaadi hoti hai aur Manik mera pati hai. Iss sach ko koi nahi badal sakta...khud Manik bhi nahi." Nandini stood up confidently.

"Yeh hui na meri bahadur behen wali baat!" Cabir high fived her while Navya hugged her. "Aur tum toh tere saath hai hi."

******************************************

"Mazak chal raha hai yahan pe?" Raj looked at Manik & Aliya angrily. "Kabhi shaadi tod dete ho, kabhi kisi random middle class ladki ko apni biwi banna ke le aate ho...kabhi phirse Aliya ko le aate ho....CHAL KYA RAHA HAI YEH?"

Nandini went back to Oberoi Mansion to see that Manik had brought Aliya home with him and of course nobody was particularly happy about this.... well, maybe Raj was a bit happy but he was mainly confused.

"I love Aliya Dad...aur Nandini ke saath mera kabhi koi rishta tha hi nahi." Manik explained calmly.

"Koi rishta nahi hai?" Nyonika glared at her son. "Yeh iski gale mein mangalsutra aur iski mang mein sindoor...yeh kuch nahi hai? Huh?"

"Mom..I..."

"CHUP! EK DAM CHUP! Apne muh se ek aur shabd nikala toh main bhool jaunga ki tu beta hai mera!" Nyonika yelled. "Chii Manik...maine tujhe yeh sanskar di hai kya? Shaadi ho gaya tera aur tu iss ghar mein ek dusri ladki ko leke aa gaya!"

"Dusri ladki Aliya nahi Nandini hai!" Manik shouted. "She is nothing but a bloody gold digger! Cabir ko isne rakhi pehna ke paata nahi kaunsa jadoo kar di ki usko par main janta hoon ke yeh  kaisi ladki hai!"

SLAP!

"MANNU!" Aarti slapped Manik furiously. "Himmat kaise hua tera! Apni biwi ke baare mein aisa bolne ki? Tune khud isse shaadi ki...tu isko leke aaya. Aliya ne dhoka diya tujhe aur tu-"

"Aliya se galati ho gayi thi Sexy...aur mujhse bhi ki maine gusse mein aa ke iss ladki se shaadi kar li. Lekin aap sab iski sachai jaante nahi ho....agar aap jaan gaye na toh aap khud apne haathon se isko ghar se nikalenge!"

"Aisa kya hai..kya hai iski sachai?" Raj asked curiously. 

"She is...a bar dancer Dad! Bar mein, mardon ke samne paison ke liye nachti hai ye ladki! Mujhse saadi bhi isi vajah se ki hogi.....Manik Malhotra ki biwi banke she has full access to my money na? Chawl se seedha mehel mein aa gayi hai....Main uss raat upset tha, desperate tha and she took advantage of that!"

Nandini stood frozen, scared that her truth was out infront of everyone. Until now she could atleast count on Nyonika, Dadi & bhabhi to be on her side but now with her truth out....she knew she wouldnt have anyone in this house. She spent her entire life with people judging her for being a bar dancer because thats just the type of profession it is.

"KYA??? Bar Dancer?" Raj looked at Nandini with disgust. "I knew it...I just knew it. Isse toh dekh kar maine bola tha ki yeh mere bete ki layak nahi hai. Tum hi bol rahi thi na Nyonika...ki yeh ladki humare Manik ke liye bani hai? Ab kya kahoge?"

Nandini closed her eyes and tears ran down her face.

"Main ab bhi yahi bolungi." Nyonika stated. Nandini opened her eyes and looked at Nyonika in surprise. "Nandini humare bete ke liye hi bani hai...perfect hai Manik ke liye."

"Nyonika...kya bol rahe ho tum? Sunna nahi Manik ne kya kaha? Yeh ladki bar dancer hai. Paison ke liya dance karti hai.... aur paata nahi kya kya karti hogi." Raj said.

"Bas Raj!" Aarti spoke up. "Mat bhool ki yeh ladki humari ghar ki bahu hai! Iske baare mein itni ghandi baat bolne ki himmat kaise hua tera?"

"Galat kya bola maine Ma? Aisi ladkiyan kuch bhi kar sakti hai."

"Bar dancers bhi insaan hote hai Raj! Tujhe aur tere beton ko duniya ki saare aishon aaram mila toh iska matlab yeh nahi ki sab logon ki yeh sab mila. Kuch log aise bhi hote hai jinko majboor mein aisa kaam karna parta hai jo woh karna nahi chahte hai! Nandini ki tarah!" Aarti said. "Cabir ne hume sab kuch bata diya tha....Majboori ki baari mein."

Nandini got emotional as she remembered what Cabir had told her before she left their house. 

*Flashback*

"Relax behna...uss ghar mein main aur Navya nahi hai toh kya hua? Tujhe wahan ek pura support system milega, iska intezaam maine kar diya hai."

"Matlab?" Nandini asked.

"Waqt aane par tujhe chal jayega." Cabir winked.

*Flashback Ends*

"Why are we still discussing this?" Manik asked. "Aapko pehle se paata chal gaya toh kya? Main iss shaadi ko nahi manta Dadi...Aliya is my love, aur mein shaadi bhi sirf isse se karunga! Aapko aur Mom ko iss bar dancer pe bhalai bohot pyaar aa raha ho...I dont care."

"Jail jaoge toh care karoge?" Nandini finally spoke up.

"What did you say?"

"Tum kahi ke raja maharaja ho kya jo tumhara manna ya na manne se kuch farak parega? Shaadi hum dono ki ho chukki hai...woh bhi saare rasmon se saath. Marriage certificate bhi sign ho chuka hai....maine sambhal ke rakhi hai. Ab agar tumhe iss Aliya se shaadi karni hai toh pehle mujhe divorce karni hogi aur main divorce dungi nahi....bina divorce ki agar phirse shaadi karoge toh jail hi jaoge na?"

"Oh ladki...how dare you? Mere bete ko dhamki doge?" Raj pointed his finger at Nandini. "Tum dekhna, main apni lawyers se keh kar tum dono ke divorce kitni jaldi karwata hoon. Phir main Raj Malhota, dhoom dham se apne bete ki shaadi Aliya se karwaunga!"  

"Kar lijiye aapko jo karna hai." Nandini stared into Raj's eyes confidently. "Ek din aap khud mujhe apni bahu mannenge...aur Aliya ko aap iss ghar se nikalenge. Yeh Vaada hai mera."

Nyonika & Aarti smiled proudly at Nandini while Raj, Manik & Aliya were fuming in anger.

---------------------------------

Note: So...what did you think? Nandini's secret as a bar dancer had to come out soon because the secret isnt the main point of this story. The rebirth is and dont worry, right now Manik is a jerk and believe Aliya but soon he will fall for Nandini again cause they were literally born for each other...also their memories will come back but not so soon.